In my writing lately I am being struck by the influence of so many cultures - particularly in the history of American healthcare. The influence of Asia comes from the very first inhabitants of our continent. Across the Bering Strait they brought ideas, medicines, rituals, and other healing practices. Later African culture, tragically hijacked, nonetheless brought their healing traditions with them. And of course, the influence of European science and medical practice has been strong. But what stands out the most for me is the original and continued importance of the non-European cultures. The diverse river of influences that continue to nourish our culture needs to recognized and appreciated even more. These are many precious legacies that we build upon. So when I hear people summarily dismissing "chi" and various spiritual-medico languages as being merely unscientific, I think that is a tragedy as vast as people who complain about immigrants when that is all this nation is.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Aug 2013 17:00:00 +0000
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